Indeed
to reflect on Allah’s verses is a form of worship that will draw one close
to Allah Most High. This reflection is not a reckless and wandering one,
rather it includes a study of the classical tafseer of the verses being
pondered over, as this would fulfil Ibnul-Qayyim’s great advice, “Such
as reflecting over a book which a person has memorised and he expounds
it so that he may understand what its author intends by it.”

Indeed the
Book of Allah is not a book like any other, it is the timeless Speech of
Allah, not a created thing, the study guide for life and death and what
comes after. Therefore it deserves a more careful study than anyone else’s
speech. It necessitates that its reader return to the early narrations
of those who witnessed its revelation and heard its explanation by the
one deputed by Allah to rehearse and explain His Words to humanity (sallallaahu
‘alaihi wa sallam). For if one would try to ponder over the meanings of
the verses without having done this study, then surely the filth of the
time that he lives in and his ignorance of the correct application and
understanding that the early Muslims had would cause him to understand
some things not intended by Allah Most High, and therefore he would go
astray, thinking to be worshipping Allah. So every sincere Muslim who hopes
to earn Allah’s Love breciting and reflecting over Allah’s Book, then let
him hold tight to the meanings explained by the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi
wa sallam), and those taught by the companions and their immediate followers,
and the early scholars of Islam.

So dear brother
and sister Muslim! Know that reciting and pondering over the Book of Allah,
devoting your time regularly to its study and implementation has tremendous
benefits in this life and the Next, so let us now look to just a few of
them to attach ourselves more firmly to Allah’s Majestic Words. Each benefit
stands as enough of an encouragement to shun any laziness we have and dedicate
ourselves to the Qur’an.

1 - Reading
and reflecting over the Qur’an fulfils an Islamic duty.

Indeed the
Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) summarised this Religion with his
statement: “The Religion is naseehah (sincerity)!” So then Tameem ibn Aws,
may Allah be pleased with him, then said, “We asked, ‘To whom?’” He said:
“To Allah, HIS BOOK, His Messenger, the leaders of the people, and their
common folk.” [Muslim] The sincerity that is due to the Book of Allah includes
its regular recitation, learning the rules of tajweed and reciting it beautifully,
learning about its tafseer and the reasons for its revelation, affirming
that it is the Truth, the perfect Speech of Allah and not part of the creation,
honoring it and defending it, abiding by the orders and prohibitions found
in it, teaching it and calling to it. [See Jaami’ul-’Uloom wal-Hikam of
Ibn Rajab Al-Hambalee] So by reading and reflecting over the Qur’an, one
fulfills an obligation and is rewarded for that. Upon fulfilling this obligation,
the Qur’an then becomes a proof for him on the Day of Judgment! And that
is our second benefit we will take by embracing this Noble Book...

2 - The
Qur’an will be a proof for us on the Day of Judgment.

This is due
to the statement of the Messenger: “And the Qur’an is a proof for you or
against you.” [Muslim] So one of two things will occur with this proof,
the Book of Allah. It will either be in your favor, a proof for you on
the Day when you will need every single good deed, or it will be something
standing against you, the very Speech of your Creator, a proof against
you! Who could be saved from the terrors of that Day if Allah’s own Speech
is against him?!?! Think carefully, dear Muslim brother or sister, about
your position with the Qur’an! Are you neglecting it, contradicting it,
being heedless of its orders and prohibitions, are you thinking deeply
over it?! Will it be on your side on the Day of Judgment.?! O Allah! We
ask you, by Your Glorious Speech and the rest of your beautiful Names and
Attributes, to make the Qur’an a proof for us! O Allah! Don’t make the
Qur’an a proof against us on that Day, and save us from the hellfire! For
if Allah makes the Qur’an a proof in our favour on that Day, then it would
also be an intercessor for us, when NO intercession will take place except
by His Permission.

3 - The
Qur’an will intercede for us on the Day of Judgment.

The proof:
Aboo Umaamah relates that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
“Read the Qur’an, for verily it will come on the Day of Standing as an
intercessor for its companions.” [Muslim]

4 - Your
status in this life will be raised.

In Saheeh Muslim,
we find a lovely story, about how a man from the people of Jannah, ‘Umar
ibn Al-Khattaab, understood this principle. Some men came to question him
during his khilaafah about the leadership of Makkah, they asked, “Who do
you use to govern Makkah?” He said, “Ibn Abzaa.” They asked, “And who is
Ibn Abzaa?” Umar replied, “A freed slave from those we freed.” They remarked,
“You left a freed slave in charge of the people of the Valley (the noble
tribes of the Quraysh)!?!?” So he answered them, “Verily he is a reader
of the Book of Allah and is knowledgeable about the obligations of the
Muslims. Haven’t you heard the statement of your Messenger: “Verily Allah
raises some people by this Book and lowers others by it.”

5 - You
will be from the best of the people.

‘Uthmaan, may
Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam) said: “The best of you are the ones who learn the Qur’an and teach
it to others” [Al-Bukhari]

6 - There
are ten rewards for each letter you recite from the Qur’an.

As an authentic
hadith in At-Tirmithee proves: “Whoever reads a letter from the Book of
Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten.
I am not saying that “Alif, Laam, Meem” is a letter, rather I am saying
that “Alif” is a letter, “laam” is a letter and “meem” is a letter.” So
increase your recitation of the Qur’an to gain these merits, and to gain
the following merit as well.

7 - The
reciters of the Qur’an will be in the company of the noble and obedient
angels.

‘Aa’ishah,
may Allah be pleased with her, relates that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi
wa sallam) said: “Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly,
and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels.
And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling
through its verses, then he will have TWICE that reward.” [Al-Bukhari and
Muslim]

So dear brother
or sister Muslim, do not let the Shaytaan give you false excuses, such
as “I am not an ‘Arab,” or “Its not my language.” This hadith is a firm
proof against these whisperings. Dedicate yourself to the Book of Allah,
whether you are an ‘Arab or not! The excuses have been eliminated and the
pathway has been cleared for you to embrace the Book of Allah without holding
back or offering excuses! And surely you will not hesitate to seek a teacher
or a study circle for the Qur’an once you hear the last and perhaps greatest
benefits of reading and contemplating over the Qur’an...

8 - Your
position in Paradise is determined by the amount of Qur’an you memorize
in this life!

‘Abdullaah
ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-’Aas heard the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)
saying: “It will be said to the companion of the Qur’an: Read and elevate
(through the levels of the Paradise) and beautify your voice as you used
to do when you were in the dunyaa! For verily, your position in the Paradise
will be at the last verse you recite!” [Aboo Daawood and At-Tirmithee,
saheeh]

9 - The
Qur’an will lead you to Paradise!

The Prophet
said: “The Qur’an is an intercessor, something given permission to intercede,
and it is rightfully believed in. Whoever puts it in front of him, it will
lead him to Paradise; whoever puts it behind him, it will steer him to
the Hellfire.” [An authentic hadith found in At-Tabaraanee, on the authority
of ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood]

Know, dear
brother or sister, that these nine benefits from the many benefits available
can only be attained by a sincere commitment to the Book of Allah, not
by a person’s mere statement, “I love the Qur’an, it’s beautiful.” Rather
the heart must be sincerely attached to Allah’s Book and the limbs and
tongue will follow in this attachment. You must know that we only mentioned
a few of the numerous benefits of reading and reflecting over the Qur’an.
There are many benefits that await your reading in the Qur’an and books
of hadith, like the chapter of the Qur’an that will argue on your behalf
in the grave, and that it is a physical healing, a source of rest and relaxation
for your heart, among many other things. And Allah knows best. (Taken from
Look 4 Islam)